Pivot joint system and rear view device therewith

Abstract

A pivot joint system of a rear view device includes a base to be fixed to a vehicle and a head rotatable relative to the base, the pivot joint system acting between two components that rotate with respect to one another around an axis to control rotation from a first set position to at least one second set position, with each of the two components including a cylindrical section and a resilient means being arranged within a cylindrical space between said cylindrical sections to act between the two components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pivot joint system of a rear view device, comprising:
 a base to be fixed to a vehicle; 
 a head rotatable relative to the base; 
 two components that rotate with respect to one another around an axis to control rotation of the pivot joint system from a first set position to at least one second set position, each of said two components comprising a cylindrical section and a resilient means being arranged within a cylindrical space between the cylindrical sections to act between said two components, the first component being part of or fixedly connected to the head, the second component being part of or fixedly connected to the base, and the resilient means comprising a torsion spring arranged concentrically around the pivot axis, 
 a detent means for securing the first set position of the first component relative to the second component until a predetermined torsional load is applied rotating the first component relative the second component; and 
 a bolt that has a longitudinal axis falling together with the pivot axis, the bolt providing a support extension for a first end of the spring, and a second end of the spring abuts against a shoulder of the second component cylindrical section, 
 wherein the torsion spring has a first tail at a first end which is attached to the first component, and a second tail at the second end which is attached to the second component so that a torsional load applied onto the spring when rotating the first component out of the first set position relative to the second component into the at least one second set position relative to the second component forces the first component back into the first set position relative to the second component with the first set position being defined by a driving position of the head and the at least one second set position comprising a knocked out position of the head, 
 wherein the detent means lifts the first component relative to the second component when rotating in the at least one second set position resulting in a compression of the spring so that relaxation of the spring assists in forcing the first component back into the first set position relative to the second component, and 
 wherein at least one of
 the first component cylindrical section is provided with a step against which the second component cylindrical section is forced by the spring, or 
 the pivot joint system further comprises a washer that is arranged between the support extension and the spring as well as the first component cylindrical section with the first component cylindrical section being concentrically arranged around the bolt, the spring being concentrically arranged around the first component cylindrical section, and the second component cylindrical section being concentrically arranged around the spring. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of
 a spacer is arranged concentrically around the first component cylindrical section below the spring, or 
 the second component cylindrical section has its longitudinal axis shifted relative to the pivot axis. 
 
     
     
       3. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a case frame and a bayonet means comprising a bayonet tower. 
     
     
       4. The pivot joint system of  claim 3 , wherein one or more detents of the case frame, extending from the cylindrical section of the case frame or being part of the detent means, are arranged concentrically at least one of around a cylindrical section of the bayonet means or concentrically within the cylindrical section of the case frame at least one of between detents of the detent means of the case frame or above the spring. 
     
     
       5. The pivot joint system of  claim 3 , wherein a recess is provided in each of one or more detents of the detent means of a base frame for engaging with a locking projection of detent means of the bayonet means projecting from the cylindrical section of the bayonet tower. 
     
     
       6. The pivot joint system of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is adapted to be compressed between an extension or rim of the bayonet means and a shoulder or rim of a base frame provided by detent means of the base frame. 
     
     
       7. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein the tails of the spring are attached via locking means to the first component cylindrical section and the second component cylindrical section, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The pivot joint system of  claim 7 , further comprising a spacer arranged concentrically around the first component cylindrical section below the spring, wherein at least one of
 the locking means is rotationally displaced relative to each other, 
 the first locking means extends between the first component cylindrical section and the spacer and the second locking means extends between the spacer and the second component cylindrical section, or 
 the first locking means ensures a locking of the first tail of the spring internal into the first component cylindrical section and the second locking means ensures a locking of the second tail of the spring external to the second component cylindrical section. 
 
     
     
       9. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein the washer is attached to at least one of the first component cylindrical section or the first end of the spring. 
     
     
       10. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein the detent means extends into a recess of the first component cylindrical section with the recess being defined within a cylindrical extension of the first component cylindrical section. 
     
     
       11. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein the detent means comprises at least one of:
 at least one detent acting on an inner surface of a cylindrical extension; 
 a guide face in form of a flat or inclined guide ramp along which a cylindrical extension of a case frame that can travel during rotation of the first component relative to the second component, the recess having a shape complementary to the guide ramp; 
 at least one further detent forming a stop against which the cylindrical extension is abutting to define a second set position, or 
 a top provided by the stop to abut against the recess. 
 
     
     
       12. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two head movement stops are provided by a case frame between two detents of the detent means. 
     
     
       13. The pivot joint system of  claim 1 , further comprising sealing means comprising at least one seal element between a case frame and a base frame and clipped to a case frame. 
     
     
       14. A rear view device, comprising:
 the base to be fixed to a vehicle; 
 the head rotatable relative to the base; and 
 the pivot joint system according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first component is part of or fixedly connected to the head in form of a case frame or a part fixedly connected to a case frame like a bayonet tower, 
 wherein the second component is part of or fixedly connected to the base in form of a base frame, 
 wherein the first set position is defined by the driving position of the head, and 
 wherein the second set position comprises the knocked out position of the head. 
 
     
     
       15. The rear view device of  claim 14 , wherein the head comprises one or more of at least one reflective element and a camera which is attached to the case frame via an articulation system. 
     
     
       16. The rear view device of  claim 15 , wherein each detent of the detent means of the case frame is provided with a lip at least along a part of its outer perimeter for a smooth interface with a motor cradle of the articulation system.